James D. Watts Jr.
Tulsa World Scene Reporter
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Fulton Street Books & Coffee, which has specialized in fiction and nonfiction by people of color, as well as from other marginalized segments of society, plans to close in the next month.
The store, owned and operated by Onikah Asamoa-Caesar, first opened at 211 W. Latimer St. in 2020, moving to its current location, 21 N. Greenwood Ave., next door to the Greenwood Rising Black Wall Street History Center.
In a story earlier this year focusing on the few independent bookstores still operating in Tulsa, Asamoa-Caesar said that, in spite of what might seem to be a prime location for a store such as hers, Fulton Street Books & Coffee remained something of an undiscovered gem.
“Of course, in my world, everyone knows about Fulton Street, yet every day people come in and say they had no idea this place existed,” she said. “There is also the sense that people see us only as ‘the Black bookstore’ or ‘the woman-owned bookstore,’ rather than just a bookstore.
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“But this is truly a general interest bookstore,” Asamoa-Caesar said. “Yes, our focus will always be on writers who are Black, brown, Indigenous, queer and otherwise marginalized. And that is actually a very broad range of people. But there’s the misconception that that’s all we carry. One of my favorite things is to do special orders for people because it’s usually because they want to support an independent bookstore and shop locally.”
The bookstore will mark its fifth anniversary with its annual Adult Book Fair, taking place 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday. The event will feature a special menu of matcha-based beverages, book specials, patio games and music by DJ Gary Mason.
In an email announcing the event, Asamoa-Caesar wrote: “When we opened Fulton Street Books & Coffee five years ago, we didn’t just open a bookstore. We rooted ourselves in community. We built something beautiful. We told stories – ours and yours – and we created a space where literacy, culture, coffee, and connection could thrive under one roof.
“Now, five years later, we’re writing our final Tulsa chapter,” Asamoa-Caesar continued. “That’s a hard sentence to write – but it’s one held with deep gratitude, a lot of pride, and a full heart. We’re so thankful for every person who bought a book, came to storytime, joined a book club, grabbed a coffee, donated, volunteered, or simply believed in what we were trying to build.”
The email concludes with: “This chapter is closing — but the story isn’t over. We’ll be sharing more soon about what’s next for Fulton Street. Stay close. Big things are ahead.”
james.watts@tulsaworld.com
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James D. Watts Jr.
Tulsa World Scene Reporter
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